Frequently Asked Questions about the Fort Mill School District Bond Referendum
The Fort Mill School District, which covers Fort Mill, Tega Cay and unincorporated areas of Fort Mill Township, has worked hard to build a reputation for academic excellence. Our success in test scores, ratings, teacher credentials, and student achievement has made us increasingly attractive to newcomers and natives. But our popularity has been affected exponentially by our close proximity to Charlotte, a city experiencing unparalleled growth. Even if Fort Mill wanted to put on the brakes, our neighbor to the north would not. It’s inevitable that continued growth in Charlotte means added student enrollment here. And crowded schools with shared rooms and facilities will continue to compromise quality and safety, limit student success, and impact participation in extracurricular activities. When school began in August 2007, the student population was 10 percent higher than the previous year. New students arriving since will likely push the growth rate above 11 percent by the end of the current school year. The money will be used in two different areas. When you vote YES on ballot question #1, you pave the way for building ONE middle school, TWO elementary schools, and acquiring land for future school sites. The cost of Question 1 is $87.2 million. When you vote YES on ballot question #2, you enable the addition of classroom gyms at both high schools, and the completion of a stadium at Nation Ford High School. The cost of Question 2 is $8.1 million. YES. The new schools will help us balance attendance zones, thaw enrollment freezes, respond to above-average growth rates and minimize portable units. The district has already implemented enrollment freezes at Gold Hill Elementary and Orchard Park Elementary, and a freeze is scheduled at Springfield Elementary in June 2008. Approving school bonds now will help us keep pace with growth and ensure Fort Mill schools continue to have favorable student-teacher ratios and very few portable classrooms. YES. An extra gymnasium at both high schools will provide adequate space for multiple physical education classes, allowing more students to participate and exercise. Extra space will also reduce scheduling conflicts that keep some athletic teams waiting hours before their practice time, or require they adapt a less-than-desirable space for their use. For example, Fort Mill High’s wrestling team has to move seven 900-pound mats from the hallway into their practice area (which doubles as the cafeteria and common areas). Nation Ford High School has a lighted athletic field but no facilities, such as restrooms, concession stands and stadium bleachers for thousands of fans. Students are currently transferred across town to Bob Jones Stadium at Fort Mill High. School bonds will finish the stadium and allow Nation Ford to host football and soccer games, as well as band competitions and other events. A stadium at Nation Ford High was delayed to reduce the 2004 bond request, which built the second high school. A 2006 capital needs study confirmed growth is strong and accelerating. In addition, previous independent forecasts by two consulting teams have been accurate, and both predict double-digit enrollment increases for the next several years. Developers continue to build new houses and neighborhoods in the Fort Mill School District. Ours is the only school district in South Carolina that collects an impact fee of $2,500 for every new dwelling built, and funds are only used to reduce debt for new school construction. Since the fee was implemented in 1998, more than $22 million has been collected. The total for ballot question #1 is $87,250,000. This includes $33.1 million for Middle School #4, $24.2 million for Elementary School #8, $24.8 million for Elementary School #9 (site to be determined), plus $5 million to buy land for future school sites and approximately $67,000 for fees to issue bonds. The total for ballot question #2 is $8,718,000. This includes $1.8 million each for extra classroom gyms at Nation Ford and Fort Mill high schools, plus $5 million for a 5,000 seat stadium with restrooms and concession facilities at Nation Ford High School. This new stadium would be comparable in size to Bob Jones Stadium at Fort Mill High School. Approximately $56,000 is also included for fees to issue bonds. The school board’s goal is to keep costs to fellow taxpayers as low as possible while maintaining strong schools. Impacts to local taxpayers will depend on the tax valuation of their homes. The following estimate shows the averaged cost over a 25-year pay-off schedule to retire debt service for bonds: QUESTION 1 $100,000 home: $4 a month or $50 a year $200,000 home: $8 a month or $100 a year $300,000 home: $12.50 a month or $150 a year QUESTION 2 $100,000 home: $0.40 a month or $5 a year $200,000 home: $0.80 a month or $10 a year $300,000 home: $1.25 a month or $15 a year The Fort Mill School District has demonstrated time and time again that it understands economic efficiency. Its administrative costs per pupil are among the lowest in the region; lower than 76 of the state’s 85 districts. Also, our district’s total per pupil spending is lower than 64 other districts.
Vote “YES” on March 4th Whether you have a child in public school or not, strong schools are a major factor in quality of life and property values. High quality schools produce good students today and productive citizens tomorrow. Don't leave the decision to someone else. Your “YES” vote on March 4th is an investment in your neighborhood, your community and the future graduates of Fort Mill School District. Back to the top. |
||
|
||
| www.KeepOurSchoolsStrong.com E-mail: Committee@KeepOurSchoolsStrong.com |
Keep Our Schools Strong Committee
P.O. Box 188
Fort Mill, SC 29716
803-547-1016